Howdy WHA Members! As many of you may be following, the state of Texas recently enacted a rare mid-decade redistricting plan, signed into law by Governor Abbott last week that is widely seen as engineered to lead to more Republican […]
Partnerships in Action: Moving Forward on Hillcroft Mobility Improvements
Earlier this year, members of the West Houston Association’s Regional Mobility Committee sat down to discuss a stretch of roadway that has long been on the minds of many Houstonians: Hillcroft Avenue between Westheimer Road and IH 69. Anyone who […]
The Art of Placemaking
Placemaking, as an intentional practice, came into being in the late 1960’s, as architects, scientists, artists, geographers, planners, and designers all struggled with the impersonality and alienation of Modernism (1). The rationality of the prevalent design practice at that time, […]
President’s Desk: August 2025
Howdy WHA Members! This month we saw the passage of H.R. 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act. If you are curious what it all entails you can read the 887 pages yourself, but since almost no one else has, […]
Understanding Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ)
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs) are an impactful yet often misunderstood tool driving infrastructure improvements and economic development across Houston and throughout the State of Texas. In simple terms, a TIRZ is a special zone where increases in property tax […]
Building Resilience: The Future of Flood Control in a Growing Region
In the wake of increasingly frequent and severe weather events, Greater Houston’s future depends on how effectively we prepare, respond, and adapt. From Hurricane Harvey to more localized but still damaging storms, the cumulative impact of flooding is not just […]
The Right Size: Rethinking Density in Master Planned Communities
The final panel of our 2025 QPD Symposium tackled one of the most loaded concepts in modern land development — Density. “We don’t say the Z-word,” Chris Browne of EHRA Engineering joked at the start, referring to zoning, and “the […]
President’s Desk: July 2025
Howdy WHA Members! The 2025 Quality Planned Development Symposium was a resounding success, bringing together leaders in planning, development, healthcare, education, and infrastructure to share ideas and inspire action toward more resilient, equitable communities. With record attendance and dynamic, solutions-focused […]
President’s Desk: June 2025
Howdy WHA Members! At the time of this writing, the Texas Legislature still has a few final hours for last-minute decisions, and the Governor retains the authority to veto legislation. That said, we’ve already seen meaningful investments in both flooding […]
Thriving Together: A Regional Blueprint for Sustainable Growth and Infrastructure
As Greater Houston experiences rapid population growth, managing infrastructure demands and guiding sustainable development are essential to ensuring long-term resilience and a high quality of life. Addressing challenges like flooding, housing affordability, and mobility requires coordinated planning that links economic […]